Expanding our tradition of sharing knowledge and skills.
Snakebite!
Each year, an estimated 7 to 8 thousand Americans suffer snakebites. Fortunately, only about five of those bites result in fatalities, partly because of the lack of snake identification skills most of us have. Huh? This causes most snakebite victims to seek trained medical help, where they receive proper care. Snakes’ excellent camouflage also makes them hard to see before it’s too late. Up your snake sense with this important info.
North America is a large place and, because of its varied environments and weather conditions, it is home to 21 of the world’s most venomous snakes. Most people don’t think twice about whether a snake they see is in this group, they opt for killing it rather than trying to identify it. By learning which snakes are cause for concern, more friendly snakes will be left to help keep pest populations under control.
Instead of looking at snakes as a potentially hazardous nuisance, think of them as a possible dinner partner, as in, on your plate. Like most animals, they’re a great source of protein but, did you know that they have about half the calories and about a third of the fat of a beef steak? Whether you’re on the trail and looking for some sustenance or a snake pops up just in time for your cookout, don’t count this nutritious food out!
Many of us have a fear of snakes, to one extent or another, but we don’t have a good idea of how to treat a snakebite. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with slicing open the wound site and sucking the venom out. If you ever have the displeasure of being bitten by any sort of snake, refer to the nine steps described in this article to ensure proper care of the wound and the victim.
The September issue of AOG will be out in two weeks. Now that you’ve learned about snakebites, catch Dana Benner's article about how to keep from being one of the 350K+ dog bite victims this year.
